I did a religious thing aswell:

 

Atheism: 38

Christianity: 12

Judaism: 2

Sikhism: 1

Hinduism: 1

Pinguism: 1

I did a religious thing aswell:

 

Atheism: 38

Christianity: 12

Judaism: 2

Sikhism: 1

Hinduism: 1

Pinguism: 1

 

LOL you have accomodating neighbours :o anyone comes knocking on my door asking me stuff 9 times out of 10 I tell them to bugger off :P

LOL you have accomodating neighbours :o anyone comes knocking on my door asking me stuff 9 times out of 10 I tell them to bugger off :P

:D

 

We're a nice bunch, us wearsiders!

:D

 

We're a nice bunch, us wearsiders!

 

I make an exception if they are female and good looking ;)

Sunday polls confirm that the Tories' lead has collapsed, with all polls now showing them just two points ahead of Labour. To think that just last year, the likes of Craig predicted Labour would be out for a generation.

Also September's council by-election results have shown that, on average, Labour's vote is up 7%, with Lib Dems down 6% and the Tories down marginally at 0.5%. I'm sceptical of putting too much weight on council by-elections, but it is perhaps an indication that Labour's recovery is being reflected at the ballot box...

Also September's council by-election results have shown that, on average, Labour's vote is up 7%, with Lib Dems down 6% and the Tories down marginally at 0.5%. I'm sceptical of putting too much weight on council by-elections, but it is perhaps an indication that Labour's recovery is being reflected at the ballot box...

An individual local by-election is meaningless. The general trend over a period of several weeks at least gives some indication of what is going on.

Sunday polls confirm that the Tories' lead has collapsed, with all polls now showing them just two points ahead of Labour. To think that just last year, the likes of Craig predicted Labour would be out for a generation.

 

I would expect nothing more than a Labour lead in the next 2-3 years, a very substantial one too when the cuts start biting, I am braced for that

 

But every airplane journey to paradise has some turbulence and I expect nothing different

I would expect nothing more than a Labour lead in the next 2-3 years, a very substantial one too when the cuts start biting, I am braced for that

 

But every airplane journey to paradise has some turbulence and I expect nothing different

 

LOL, it's been reported that Ashcroft will no longer be contributing to the Conservatives after a bust-up with Cameron. As Ashcroft himself acknowledges, it was only his money that allowed the Tories to even do as well as they did this year. So much for your assertion that Labour couldn't afford financially to go toe-to-toe with the Tories in a new election within the next year!

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics...n-failings.html

LOL, it's been reported that Ashcroft will no longer be contributing to the Conservatives after a bust-up with Cameron. As Ashcroft himself acknowledges, it was only his money that allowed the Tories to even do as well as they did this year. So much for your assertion that Labour couldn't afford financially to go toe-to-toe with the Tories in a new election within the next year!

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics...n-failings.html

 

Lord Ashcroft has donated about £15 million to the party over the past two decades, but made it clear that he would not be donating as much in the future. “The party is actually in pretty good shape financially, which is a great credit to Michael Spencer [the outgoing treasurer] and his team,” he said. “They raised even more money than we were allowed to spend in the election campaign, so I’m not sure they need me for now.”

 

Reports of our demise are greatly exaggerated ;)

Lord Ashcroft has donated about £15 million to the party over the past two decades, but made it clear that he would not be donating as much in the future. “The party is actually in pretty good shape financially, which is a great credit to Michael Spencer [the outgoing treasurer] and his team,” he said. “They raised even more money than we were allowed to spend in the election campaign, so I’m not sure they need me for now.”

 

Reports of our demise are greatly exaggerated ;)

 

How convenient you forgot to quote the part where he says that, had it not been for his money this year, he believes Labour would be the largest party. It wasn't just Ashcroft's money that was an asset to the Tories, it was his sharp tactics.

How convenient you forgot to quote the part where he says that, had it not been for his money this year, he believes Labour would be the largest party. It wasn't just Ashcroft's money that was an asset to the Tories, it was his sharp tactics.

 

He invested a lot of money in the marginals which undoubtedly boosted our number of MP's, the money we have in the bank can be spent on the marginals next time if necessary, we are still acash rich party even if Ashcroft scales back his funding.

 

I essentially agree with many of Ashcroft's points

What I would really like to see is Ashcroft bankroll and start (probably with David Davis) a UK equivalent of the Tea Party, a right wing pressure group that speaks up for and offers a real alternative for economic right wingers like me who find the Tories too centrist but refuse to have anything to do with the BNP

He invested a lot of money in the marginals which undoubtedly boosted our number of MP's, the money we have in the bank can be spent on the marginals next time if necessary, we are still acash rich party even if Ashcroft scales back his funding.

 

I essentially agree with many of Ashcroft's points

So you agree that he bought the election. Isn't democracy marvellous?

So you agree that he bought the election. Isn't democracy marvellous?

 

He undoubtedly made a difference but nothing stopped the Lib Dems or Labour finding a billionaire of their own to bankroll them, they failed to, their problem

He undoubtedly made a difference but nothing stopped the Lib Dems or Labour finding a billionaire of their own to bankroll them, they failed to, their problem

So you think that it's perfectly OK for one man - who doesn't even pay UK tax - to buy an election? Somehow I'm not surprised.

YouGov tonight shows Labour and the Tories equal on 39%, with the Lib Dems slightly improved at 13% (a possible mini-bounce from the Clegg speech?). Remember YouGov's polls since the election have typically put the Tories 1 or 2 points higher than other pollsters.

This week's local byelections - results from independent.co.uk

 

Gateshead Borough - Lobley Hill and Bensham: Lab 1120, Lib Dem 298, BNP 101, C 97.

(May 2010 - Lab 2244, Lib Dem 972, C 517, BNP 291, Green 121).

Lab hold. Swing 10.1% Lib Dem to Lab.

 

Gateshead Borough - Saltwell: Lab 793, Lib Dem 196, C 86, BNP 77.

May 2010 - Lab 1964, Lib Dem 748, C 451, BNP 202).

Lab hold. Swing 7.8% Lib Dem to Lab.

 

North East Derbyshire District - Gosforth Valley: C 416, Lab 354, Lib Dem 350.

(May 2007 - Three seats Lib Dem 937, 829, 807, C 520, 481, Lab 327, 320, 297).

C gain from Lib Dem. Swing 13.6% Lib Dem to C.

 

Rushmoor Borough - Wellington: C 270, Lib Dem 238, Lab 184, Ukip 50, No description 12.

(May 2010 - C 1081, Lib Dem 896, Lab 562).

C hold. Swing 1.5% C to Lib Dem.

 

Teignbridge District - Ipplepen: Lib Dem 756, C 458.

(May 2007 - C 650, Lib Dem 250).

Lib Dem gain from C. Swing 34.5% C to Lib Dem.

 

Wealden District - Heathfield Central and North: C 802, Lib Dem 357.

(May 2010 - Three seats C 1423, 1337, 1303, Lib Dem 561).

C hold. Swing 1.5% C to Lib Dem.

 

Absolutely massive Tory to Lib Dem swing in Teignbridge which is one of the parliamentary seats the Tories gained from the Lib Dems in May. Both Tories and Lib Dems saw their vote collapse in two safe Labour wards in Gateshead. A Tory gain in a tight three-way contest in Ne Derbyshire.

That Teignbridge swing must have local factors at play...

That Teignbridge swing must have local factors at play...

The by-election was caused by the death of the longest-serving member of the council. I suspect he had held his seat while other seats in the ward had gone Lib Dem.